Preparing the space for your system

One way to prevent unplanned outages is to ensure that the space where you put your system promotes availability. Many physical and environmental factors contribute to how your system performs.

The first thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with your system. Different system models have different requirements with regard to the conditions they are in, so you should be aware of what your system needs. For more information about the physical characteristics of each model, see POWER7 Systems Information->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site and Hardware Planning->Hardware specification sheets->Server specifications. For information about the physical characteristics of the hardware that you can attach to your system, see Hardware specification sheets.

After you are familiar with the physical characteristics of your system, be sure to consider the following information about the space where the system resides:

• Location. The physical location of your system can affect on how available it is. For example, if the room is not secure, your system might be vulnerable to vandalism or even someone accidentally dislodging the power cord. For more details about what precautions you need to take with regard to your system's location, see POWER7 Systems Information->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site preparation and physical planning.
• Cables. Cables are often overlooked, but without them your system will be unusable. You need to ensure that your cables are in good condition and are being used correctly. For more information about how to ensure that your cables do the job that you want them to do, see POWER7 Systems Information->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site and Hardware Planning->Planning for cables.
• Environment. The environment you provide for your system is also crucial to the availability. The environment includes such things as temperature, humidity, and other factors that can inhibit the performance of your system. For more detailed information about the environment you need to provide for your system, see POWER7 Systems Information->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site preparation and physical planning.